It has less to do with the coach. The men were starting to move backward last year. Smith saw the writing on the wall. They are still good but not dominant like several years ago.
Mike Smith knew he was leaving all year and that Cornfield was set to take over. They even made him associate head coach a year ago, so none of this is a surprise. Sorry for the honest truth, but Cornfield’s not it, he’s a dud. There’s no way he’s a top coach for NAU. But that’s the thing, this just proves again that NAU doesn’t really care. Don’t bother bringing in a solid coach. At the end of the day Cornfield will have his shot to prove his worth. So far it’s rocky, but let’s give it until NCAA’s and this spring
It’s like some schools get it and some don’t. The NAU ran terrible today at Nuttycombe.
Let’s be clear. This was Mike Smith’s program up until about six weeks ago.
The demise of the team this year is 100% on Smith.
Brilliant move on his part to bail on the NAU team now. We would have actually been able to see if he can coach his way out of it. Instead, now he gets this new Nike gig and starts his career over (again) on 3rd base, with no outs and the top of the line up at bat.
Let's be accurate. Smith gave Cornfield a full year to prepare by announcing his departure last August. Cornfield had a whole year to recruit and work the transfer portal. This team's results are the responsibility of Cornfield.
"When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful. A miracle. Oh, it was beautiful, magical. And all the birds in the trees, well they'd be singing so happily. Oh, joyfully, oh, playfully watching me. But then they sent me away to teach me how to be sensible, logical, oh, responsible, practical. And then they showed me a world where I could be so dependable. Oh, clinical, oh, intellectual, cynical. There are times when all the world's asleep. The questions run too deep for such a simple man. Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned? I know it sounds absurd, please tell me who I am. I said, watch what you say, they'll be calling you a radical, a liberal, oh, fanatical, criminal. Oh, won't you sign up your name? We'd like to feel you're acceptable, respectable, oh, presentable, a vegetable. Oh, take, take, take it, yeah."
Mike Smith knew he was leaving all year and that Cornfield was set to take over. They even made him associate head coach a year ago, so none of this is a surprise. Sorry for the honest truth, but Cornfield’s not it, he’s a dud. There’s no way he’s a top coach for NAU. But that’s the thing, this just proves again that NAU doesn’t really care. Don’t bother bringing in a solid coach. At the end of the day Cornfield will have his shot to prove his worth. So far it’s rocky, but let’s give it until NCAA’s and this spring
Do you mean the Jarred Cornfield dud who is currently coaching Elise Cranny?
What makes you think small mid-major NAU has the $$$ to get the best runners?
Their women team has certainly surged. Look for them to get to BYU level on the distaff side.
Cornfield is NOT the guy to take NAU to a national title. He even hired his D3 coaching friend from college - not exactly someone with international recruiting experience.
Mike Smith knew he was leaving all year and that Cornfield was set to take over. They even made him associate head coach a year ago, so none of this is a surprise. Sorry for the honest truth, but Cornfield’s not it, he’s a dud. There’s no way he’s a top coach for NAU. But that’s the thing, this just proves again that NAU doesn’t really care. Don’t bother bringing in a solid coach. At the end of the day Cornfield will have his shot to prove his worth. So far it’s rocky, but let’s give it until NCAA’s and this spring
It’s like some schools get it and some don’t. The NAU ran terrible today at Nuttycombe.
What are you talking about? NAU came into the season ranked 14th and took 4th at Nuttycombe above many higher ranked teams (BYU, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Butler). They’re not a podium contender, like in years past, but you can’t say they ran terrible today.
All about recruiting and how they go about it. Obviously, they have the Sahlmans now, and Addie Ritzenhein coming in.
Can they get more like this in US? Will they go International? Any money put into program?
We will see.
Note Colorado now in resurgence after new coach chose to gut program and take all the pain in one year.
The difference between Colorado and NAU is that Carlson inherited Colorado at it's weakest ever point after the long time coach got fired for mistreating athletes. Cornfield was at NAU while they PLUMMETTED.
If Cornfield had the skills to build a program, he wouldn't have let NAU decline in the first place. Cornfield isn't cut out for this level.
What recruiting draw does NAU have without Mike Smith? Sure, there’s altitude, but it’s not in a “hot” location (people would love to go to college in a truly vibrant area). Also doesn’t have an alluring academic environment
Smith did not build the program, his predecessor Eric Heins did.
It's same draw as before. Altitude, Flagstaff, like minded teammates, recent tradition, and coaching overcomes the issue of NAU academics.
It’s like some schools get it and some don’t. The NAU ran terrible today at Nuttycombe.
What are you talking about? NAU came into the season ranked 14th and took 4th at Nuttycombe above many higher ranked teams (BYU, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Butler). They’re not a podium contender, like in years past, but you can’t say they ran terrible today.
are you saying Mike Smith destroyed this team? As an earlier poster correctly stated this team was his until very recently so I guess we can agree the Cornfield has to rebuild the team because Smith let it go downhill. You are extremely foolish if you think that a coach (especially one that’s been there with him for so long) can totally rebuild or destroy a program this quickly. You are essentially bringing the athletes that smith either developed or didn’t back this year plus they’ve lost some key pieces. In 3-4 years you will know better although the ncaa has changed.
Over the last three years (one title year) the international guys they’ve had have been top grad transfers, Kusche, Las Heras, Mullarkey. That was missing this year. They got Harrison but he’s not really a cross guy.
They also had one of the best young American distance runners of all time for four years, and now don’t. Colin was a prized recruit but definitely didn’t end up being Nico Young.
These two things make a huge difference. Imagine they had Rocky Hansen and Said Mechaal on this team. Maybe not quite contending with New Mexico and Iowa State, but surely no cries of their demise
One last thing NAU had at least in the second half of the dynasty was incredibly clutch performances. I mean Santiago Prosser has a faster XC 10k than track 10k. He never qualified for NCAAs in track but he was a 3 time all-american in cross and top 25 twice. It’s like everyone on their roster brought their best at NCAAs every single year. That’s obviously the goal for everyone but easier said than done
When Mike Smith inherited the team himself from Eric Heins the program was renowned for developing talent more than recruiting it. Mike Smith immediately continued the success and then the program became a magnet for drawing top recruits.
It could be argued that Heins was better at developing talent while Smith himself developed into a superior coach and subsequently recruited superior talent.
are you saying Mike Smith destroyed this team? As an earlier poster correctly stated this team was his until very recently so I guess we can agree the Cornfield has to rebuild the team because Smith let it go downhill. You are extremely foolish if you think that a coach (especially one that’s been there with him for so long) can totally rebuild or destroy a program this quickly. You are essentially bringing the athletes that smith either developed or didn’t back this year plus they’ve lost some key pieces. In 3-4 years you will know better although the ncaa has changed.
Except Cornfield was basically the head coach this past year (especially when it comes to recruiting and transfer portal). And Cornfield, as with all assistant coaches, had a big role in recruiting in previous years.
Cornfield KNEW that Smith was preparing him to take over in the very near future (he turned down jobs knowing he'd take over NAU), but Cornfield FAILED to work hard and ensure that the team he took over was prepared to do well.
This shows a lack of work ethic and a lack of knowledge from Cornfield. NAU is in deep trouble with this guy.